Care home plan to be ammended (From The Northern Echo)

Care home plan to be ammended

8:09pm Monday 13th February 2012 in Darlington

CONTROVERSIAL plans for houses in the grounds of a former care home look set to be amended.

The former Newlands Care home in Elton Parade in the West End of Darlington has been granted permission to convert it into a home and two further houses built in its grounds.

However, the applicant Mike Odysseas has requested amendments to the agreed design.

These include replacing a detached garage with an underground garage at Newlands, installing solar panels on both of the new houses and enlarging the rear extension of one them to turn it into a garden room.

The application has attracted three letters of objection from local residents.

They have raised concerns about the number of houses on a site of that size, possible damage to tree roots by the excavation for the underground garage and an increased risk of flooding.

However, planning officers have recommended that it is given approval by the council’s planning committee.

In a report to councillors, the planning officers have written: “The proposed revisions have been considered and they are deemed acceptable in terms of their impact upon the West End Conservation Area, the amenities of the neighbouring dwellings, highway safety, and the trees within the site protected by a preservation order.”

The planning committee will discuss the application at its meeting on Wednesday at 1.30pm in the town hall.